You can now apply from September 30 for up to 66% of the cost of energy efficient home improvements.
Green Homes Grant vouchers will remain valid for 3 months from the date they are issued or until 31 March 2022, whichever is earlier, and need to be redeemed before the end date on each one. Homeowners can request an extension for circumstances outside of their control.
What is the Green Homes Grant?
The Green Home Grants scheme, opened on September 30 and allows consumers to obtain funding for up to two-thirds of the cost of the energy saving measures identified - up to £5000 – in the form of new vouchers. Homeowners and landlords in England can apply for a voucher towards the cost of installing energy efficient and low-carbon heating improvements to homes, which could help save up to £600 a year on energy bills.
Lower income households could be entitled to have as much as £10,000 of the costs covered, if you are a homeowner and either you or a member of your household receives one of the qualifying means-tested benefits, covering 100% of the cost of the improvements. The maximum value of these vouchers is £10,000.
Landlords cannot apply for the low-income part of the scheme.
The Simple Energy Advice website then offers people access to fully accredited tradespeople in their area able to carry out the work needed, so they can get quotes ready for when the vouchers become available.
Local Authorities will also be making support available for low income households in their local area through the Green Homes Grant: Local Authority Delivery. More information on participating Local Authorities will be made available on GOV.UK in due course.
What improvements can I get?
Vouchers must be used to install at least one primary home insulation or low carbon heating measure. If you choose to install at least one of the primary measures, you can use your voucher to help cover the cost of secondary measures.
The subsidy for the secondary measure is capped at the value of the subsidy provided for the primary measures. For example, if you receive £400 for a primary measure such as a cavity wall insulation, you will be able to receive a maximum of £400 for a secondary measure such as an energy efficient replacement door.
The primary and secondary measures are set out below:
Primary Measures Insulation:
Solid wall
Cavity wall
Under-floor insulation (solid floor; suspended floor)
Loft
Flat roof
Room in roof
Park home insulation
Low carbon heat (where the home is suitably insulated):
Air source heat pump
Ground source heat pump
Solar thermal
Biomass pellet boilers
Secondary Measures
Windows and doors:
Draught proofing
Double/triple glazing (where replacing single glazing)
Secondary glazing (in addition to single glazing)
Energy efficient replacement doors
Heating controls and insulation:
Hot water tank thermostats
Hot water tank insulation
Heating Controls (Smart heating controls, zone controls, intelligent delayed start thermostat and thermostatic radiator valves)
What is not covered?
The following are not covered by the grant:
Building a new extension or conversion to your home
Insulating a conservatory with no fixed heating
Installing a new fossil fuel boiler (such as gas, oil or LPG boilers)
Simple Energy Advice will recommend which measures may be best suited to your home (see next section).
The amount you get towards the cost of secondary measures cannot exceed the amount you get for primary measures.
How do I apply?
You can apply for a voucher from the end of September 2020. Before you apply, you can use the tool below to:
Check if you’re eligible for a voucher
Check what improvements may be suitable for your home
Choose which improvements you would like and see an estimate of how much they may cost
Find accredited tradespeople to get quotes from to carry out the work
CHECK ELIGIBILITY
FIND HOME IMPROVEMENTS HERE
FIND A CERTIFIED INSTALLER HERE
APPLY HERE
HOW TO GET CERTIFIED AS AN INSTALLER
Biomass pellet boilers are also in scope of the Green Home Grant, but are not included in this questionnaire. You can find out more about them here.
What if I’m claiming other grants or funding?
Energy Company Obligation
You will not be able to claim a Green Homes Grant subsidy vouchers towards the cost of a measure which has also received funding under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO). However, you can claim both ECO and Green Homes Grant subsidy providing they are each for different measures – for example loft insulation and cavity wall insulation.
Renewable Heat Incentive
The Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) gives households money towards renewable heating costs in their home. Payments are made for 7 years and are based on the amount of renewable heat made by your heating system.
You can claim both the Domestic RHI and the Green Home Grant for the renewable heat installation. You must claim the Green Home Grant first and then notify Ofgem that you have used it when you apply for accreditation to the Domestic RHI. The Green Homes Grant will then be deducted from your Domestic RHI payments.
Households can claim the Green Homes Grant for energy efficiency measures both before and after accreditation to the Domestic RHI.
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